07CV62

USN
R. V. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Autonomous Institution under VTU
VI Semester B. E. Examinations May/June-10

Civil Engineering

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
Time: 03 Hours
Maximum Marks: 100
Instructions to candidates:
Answer any TWO questions from PART A , TWO questions from PART B and
one question from Part C

PART- A
1 a Distinguish between
i.
Voids ratio and porosity
ii.
Air content and percentage air voids
iii.
Water content and degree of saturation
iv.
True specific gravity and mass specific gravity
b Prove that d s ( sat d ) , with usual notations.
c A soil sample with a water content of 15% is coated with paraffin wax
of a sp. Gravity 0.9. It displaced 135 cc of water and weighs 2 N. After
the wax is peeled off, the soil sample weighs 1.4 N. If the sp. Gravity.
of soil solids is 2.7, determine voids ratio, porosity and dry unit weight
of soil.

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2 a What is Stokes law? How is it used in hydrometer analysis to calculate

the particle diameter?
b Define Atterbergs limits
c Classify the given soil as per I.S. classification
i.
Percentage of soil passing 4.75mm sieve=86
ii.
Percentage of soil passing 75 micron sieve=10
iii.
Liquid limit=45% , plastic limit =20%
iv.
Cu=6.2 and Cc=1.5

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3 a What is Darcys law? State the assumptions made.

b Derive the formula to calculate the average coefficient of permeability
of a stratified soil deposit when the flow is perpendicular to the
stratification.
c A canal is running parallel to a stream at a distance of 300m. There is

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a permeable stratum of 1m thickness connecting the two for a length

of 100m. If the water level in the stream is 4 m higher than that in the
canal, calculate the seepage into the canal in m 3/day, given
k=7.5x10-4 cm/s for the permeable soil.
PART- B
4 a Define the following terms:
i.
Primary consolidation
ii.
Secondary compression
iii.
Coefficient of consolidation
iv.
Degree of consolidation
v.
Compression index
b A soil layer is expected to have a final settlement of 120 mm. If a
settlement of 30 mm is observed in 2 months, calculate the time
required for 60 mm settlement to occur. Also calculate the settlement
that would occur in 2 years.

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5 a What are curve fitting methods? Explain the square-root of time fitting
method.
b A consolidation test was carried out on a soil sample which was 20
mm thick initially. Given the following observations for a pressure
increment, calculate the coefficient of consolidation using square-root
of time fitting method. Assume double drainage.

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Time (min)
0.25
1.0
2.25
4.0
9.0
16
25
36

Sample
thickness (mm)
19.82
19.64
19.50
19.42
19.28
19.12
18.98
18.84

Time
(min)
49
64
81
100
121
144
169
196

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Sample
thickness (mm)
18.68
18.54
18.40
18.28
18.20
18.10
18.04
17.99

6 a Differentiate between
i.
Standard Proctor test and I.S. Light compaction test
ii.
Modified Proctor test and I.S. Heavy compaction test
b The following data was obtained from I.S. Light compaction test:
Water content
(w %)
Weight of compacted

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5.9

7.6

9.6

11.5

13.8

18.2

19.5

20.1

20.0

19.8

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wet soil (w in N)
Volume of mould=1000 cc, Sp. Gravity of soil G=2.7. Plot the
compaction curve and determine OMC and max. dry unit weight. Also
calculate voids ratio and degree of saturation at OMC.

PART- C
7 a Explain Mohr-Coulomb theory as applied to shear strength of soils.
Draw the failure envelope for the different soils.
b What are the advantages and disadvantages of Direct shear test
compared to Triaxial test.
c The following data were obtained from a CU test on a normally
consolidated clay. Plot the strength envelope and determine the shear
strength parameters with respect to effective stresses, graphically
Cell pressure ( kN/m2)
500
750
2)
Deviator stress at failure ( kN/m
300
455
2)
Pore water pressure ( kN/m
250
350
Check the values using analytical method.

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8 a What are Skemptons pore pressure parameters? Explain

b Define i. Sensitivity and ii. Thixotropy
c How do you classify the shear tests based on drainage conditions?
Indicate when each one is preferred.
d In a direct shear test on a sand sample, the sample failed at a shear
stress of 120 kN/m2 , when the normal stress was 200 kN/m 2 .Draw
the strength envelope and determine the angle of shearing resistance.
Also draw the Mohrs circle and determine the principal stresses and
orientation of their planes.

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